Downey Building

The Downey Building is a historic commercial structure at 110–112 Southwest Arch Street in Atlanta, Illinois, United States. Built in 1867 by local businessman Alexander Downey, it is an Italianate-style building organized around two storefronts. The separate commercial spaces allowed different businesses to operate in the same structure and made the property part of Atlanta’s civic and commercial center during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The south storefront initially became the home of the Exchange National Bank of Atlanta soon after the building opened. The bank had been chartered in the preceding year, following the closure of an earlier local bank, and was reportedly the only bank operating in Atlanta at that time. It subsequently adopted the names First National Bank of Atlanta and Atlanta National Bank. The bank left the building in 1916. Afterward, attorney John Luther Bevan acquired the space for a law office shared with his son, Samuel Bevan. Samuel Bevan continued using the office until his death in 1960. The south storefront later became an annex of the Atlanta Museum, linking the building’s commercial history with local heritage interpretation. The north storefront accommodated a succession of businesses before James Robert Adams opened the Palms Grill Café there in 1934. The café developed into both a neighborhood meeting place and a roadside stop. Its role expanded as U.S. Route 66 brought travelers through Atlanta: the restaurant served motorists, hosted dances and bingo events, and functioned as the city’s Greyhound bus stop. A prominent neon sign outside the café also served a practical transportation purpose by signaling buses. The Palms Grill Café closed during the 1960s, reflecting changes in local commerce, travel patterns, and the role of Route 66 after the route’s importance declined. The building later underwent extensive renovation, and the café reopened in 2009. Its return helped establish the Downey Building as a destination for visitors exploring Historic Route 66 in Illinois. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 2004. Today, its significance rests less on commercial branding than on the preservation of a surviving nineteenth-century storefront building, its association with Atlanta’s banking and legal history, and the continuing public identity created by the Palms Grill Café.

The Downey Building was constructed in 1867 at 110–112 Southwest Arch Street in Atlanta, Illinois, by local businessman Alexander Downey. Its Italianate design and two-storefront plan reflected the needs of a growing nineteenth-century commercial community: separate businesses could occupy the north and south portions while sharing one substantial street-facing structure. The south side soon became the premises of the Exchange National Bank of Atlanta. The institution had been chartered in the previous year after an earlier local bank had ceased operating, and it was the only bank in Atlanta when it opened in the building. Over time, the institution changed its name first to the First National Bank of Atlanta and later to the Atlanta National Bank. In 1916, the bank moved elsewhere. Attorney John Luther Bevan then acquired the storefront for a law practice serving himself and his son, Samuel Bevan. Samuel Bevan retained the office until his death in 1960. The space later became an annex of the Atlanta Museum. The north storefront housed several businesses before James Robert Adams established the Palms Grill Café in 1934. The café became an important social and transportation-related venue. Local residents used it for community gatherings, dances, and bingo, while travelers encountered it as a stop along U.S. Route 66. It also served as Atlanta’s Greyhound bus station. A large neon sign outside the restaurant was used not only for visibility but also to alert or signal approaching buses. The café closed during the 1960s. After a period in which the building’s commercial and travel functions diminished, the property was extensively renovated. The Palms Grill Café reopened in 2009, restoring a recognizable Route 66 use to the north storefront and helping make the building a heritage-tourism destination. The Downey Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 2004. Its historical importance combines Italianate architecture with associations involving Atlanta’s first banking institution, local legal practice, community life, roadside travel, and the preservation of Route 66 culture.

• 2009

  Palms Grill Café reopens

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The café returned after extensive renovation, reinforcing the building’s Route 66 heritage role.

• 2004

  National Register listing

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The Downey Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 25.

• 1960

  Samuel Bevan’s law-office tenancy ends

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Bevan used the former bank space as a law office until his death.

• 1934

  Palms Grill Café opens

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  James Robert Adams opened the Palms Grill Café in the north storefront.

• 1916

  Bank relocates

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The bank left the building, after which the south storefront was acquired for the Bevan family law office.

• 1867

  Building constructed

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Alexander Downey constructed the two-storefront Italianate commercial building in Atlanta, Illinois.

• 1867

  Exchange National Bank occupies the south storefront

  [1]Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The Exchange National Bank of Atlanta moved into the south side shortly after the building opened.

A preserved local commercial landmark and Route 66 heritage destination rather than a conventional consumer brand.

• Restaurant and roadside café · 1934

  Palms Grill Café

  The Palms Grill Café occupies the building’s north storefront. Established in 1934, it served as a local gathering place, a U.S. Route 66 stop, and Atlanta’s Greyhound bus stop. Its historic neon sign was also used to signal buses. After closing in the 1960s, the café reopened in 2009 following renovation.

• Museum and heritage space

  Atlanta Museum annex

  The south storefront is described as housing an annex of the Atlanta Museum. Its presence continues the building’s connection with local historical interpretation after the former banking and legal-office uses ended.

1. 1Downey Buildingen.wikipedia.org